Does the 5K include the walking?

[Runnerdownunder]

If someone says they've run 5K, does that include the 5 min walk at either end? I'm actually running for 40 mins now but my Fitbit still registers it as less than 5K which is a bit disappointing.

[RedheadedOne Graduate]

I can only speak for myself, but if I set out to run a 5k, I don't count my warm-up or cool down.

That said, YOU should count whatever you please. These are your goals to set and meet and plenty of folks don't run the entire time during races. I've run several half-marathons and have taken walk breaks when I've needed and never let that take away from my achievement.

I've run plenty in my lifetime (and recently completed this program to get back into it after being sidelined by disc issues) and rarely can I run a 5k in 30 minutes. I'm not a fast runner but that is not important to me.

Remember, you have always gone farther and faster than those people who never got off their couch.

[Runnerdownunder Graduate in reply to RedheadedOne]

Thank you! It's good to know that not everyone is running 5k in 30 minutes all the time.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

If you run for 5k then you run for 5k.........if you include walking intervals then you have run and walked 5k.

Only a small proportion of graduates from this forum who responded to a poll, managed 5k in 30 minutes by graduation healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

Graduation requirements are that you complete three thirty minute runs, regardless of distance.

[Runnerdownunder Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks for making that clear IannodaTruffe! I have appreciated much advice I have seen you give to others on this forum, too. You are making a difference to many people's lives.

[Cmoi Graduate]

No. I never count warm-up or cooldown walks as part of the distance I've run. However, it all counts as exercise.

Also, as others have said, very few people graduate C25K being able to run 5k in 30 minutes. I graduated at the end of June, and have only managed a couple of sub-30 5ks. However, I now happily run 5k, 10k, and further - as far as a HM in fact!

Do what's right for you, and be proud of what you've achieved.

[Runnerdownunder Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks Cmoi! So pleased to know I'm not the only one. I'll keep it as a goal for the future.

[Hidden]

My walking is additional. Usually just under 0.5k either side of the 5k (almost 6k in total)

[Runnerdownunder Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Pauldapart! I'll do the same